title: Novel promoter I.8 and promoter usage in the CYP19 (aromatase) gene.
abstract: To date, 10 promoters were reported to regulate the expression of the human aromatase (CYP19) gene, giving rise to transcripts with an identical coding region but tissue-specific first exons comprising unique 5'-untranslated regions. We describe the identification and characterization of a new CYP19 exon I, designated exon I.8, in a 5'-rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends-generated library of human THP-1 monocytic cells. A construct containing exon I.8 and its 5'-flanking sequence was sufficient to drive transcription in THP-1 cells. This novel promoter was located approximately 2-kb upstream of promoter I.4 and approximately 75-kb upstream of the common splice junction. We detected several I.8-containing splice variants, 2 of which also contained a sequence from exon I.4. Analysis of human tissues revealed a unique pattern of promoter I.8 usage. The placenta contained the highest level of I.8-specific transcripts. This work underscores the complexity of the mechanisms that regulate normal and pathologic aromatase expression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Biology Research, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demura
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reierstad
authors.forename: Joy E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Innes
authors.forename: Serdar E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Bulun
mesh_terms: D001141:Aromatase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001141:Aromatase